Sukon Mardi, a young male farmer from the indigenous Santhali tribe, cycled 40 kilometers to return a lost, visually impaired man to his village—despite warnings from others that the man’s family might accuse him of kidnapping. But Sukon wasn’t deterred. He was determined to reunite the older man with his loved ones after he had been wandering for three months, unable to find his way home.

This is just one of Sukon’s many heroic stories. Another time, he helped a man suffering from an epileptic seizure on top of the bus while others stood by as mere bystanders. As a member of the local youth club, Sukon also works to support the sick, raising money to cover their medical expenses and prevent people from falling into debt.

“I do this because it’s my duty,” Sukon explains with quiet conviction. “I don’t do it for money. I have a deep connection to my village. I sometimes leave my own work to help others.” 

Sukon’s dedication extends beyond just helping individuals. He played a key role in constructing manjithan—a community space where 4-5 male elders, known as Manjiharam, gather to address village issues. He received support from villagers to build this platform.

(Photo courtesy: Lebu )

While many of his friends left the village in search of better livelihoods in the city, Sukon stayed behind to help improve his community. “I want to build a better village,” he says,.

Despite his efforts, Sukon would like support for some of his bigger dreams, like improving children’s education. “I need more help from others in the village,” he says, noting that so far, his efforts have been met with limited support.

This conversation took place during the first SALT visit in which I accompanied Lebu, Purnima, and Sukanta from the NGO Suchana as part of the ARC initiative and the Pyaro Bandhan cohort. During our visit, we observed that the indigenous community, although close-knit, has been experiencing a gradual weakening of its social ties. One concern gap is the sidelining of women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles. Women, for instance, are not part of the village elders’ council nor the youth club. Their primary role, as defined by tradition, is to help mothers after childbirth.

So, Sukon is excited about SALT and CLCP and has offered support, eager to see change take root.

Conclusion- Sukon's work is a reminder that in every community, there are people quietly working to make a difference. Sometimes, all it takes is  discovering these “pearls”—the individuals who are already taking action for change. Through SALT, we can uncover these hidden heroes and amplify their impact.